- Lewis and Clark class dry cargo ship
The "Lewis and Clark" class of
dry cargo ship is the next class ofCombat Logistics Force (CLF)underway replenishment vessels to be constructed for theUnited States Navy . "Lewis and Clark"-class ships will replace the existing fifteen "Mars"- and "Sirius"-class combat store ships and the Sclass|Kilauea|ammunition ship|1s. When operating in concert with a Sclass|Henry J. Kaiser|oiler|1 the "Lewis and Clark"s will also replace Sclass|Sacramento|fast combat support ship|1s. The first of the planned twelve ships, USNS|Lewis and Clark|T-AKE-1, was placed in service with the MSC in June 2006, and is being designed for a forty-year service life. The ships will be named for famous American explorers and pioneers.The primary role of the "Lewis and Clark"s is to provide logistic lift from supply sources such as friendly ports, or while at sea, from specially equipped merchant ships by consolidation. "Lewis and Clark"s will transfer cargo (ammunition, food, limited quantities of fuel, repair parts, ship store items, and expendable supplies and material) to station ships and other naval warfare forces. As auxiliary support ships, "Lewis and Clark"s will directly contribute to the Navy's ability to maintain a forward presence. When operating together with "Henry J. Kaiser"-class oilers "Lewis and Clark"s will provide the carrier battle group and/or amphibious readiness group with product lift equivalent to a Sclass|Supply|fast combat support ship|1.
Construction of the lead ship, USNS|Lewis and Clark|T-AKE-1, was awarded to
National Steel and Shipbuilding Company (NASSCO) ofSan Diego, California , on18 October 2001 . The contract contains options for eleven follow ships. The option for the first follow ship, USNS|Sacagawea|T-AKE-2, was exercised simultaneously with award of "Lewis and Clark". The option for an additional ship was exercised in 2002, another one in 2003, two more in 2004 and another two more ships were ordered in 2005.As of 2007 , a total of nine ships had been ordered.Ships
* Launched
21 May 2005
* Launched24 June 2006
* Launched6 December 2006
* Launched15 May 2007
* Launched27 October 2007
* Launched8 April 2008
* Keel laid2 November 2007
* Ordered12 January 2005
* Unnamed (T-AKE-9) Ordered1 January 2006 References
This article includes information collected from the
Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) Web site [http://www.navsea.navy.mil/ navsea.mil] and that of the contractor NASSCO.[http://www.defenselink.mil/Releases/Release.aspx?ReleaseID=9776 Press Release]
External links
* [http://www.nassco.com/ NASSCO/General Dynamics Corporation]
* [http://www.msc.navy.mil/factsheet/t-ake.htm Military Sealift Command Fact Sheet, Dry Cargo/Ammunition Ships - T-AKE]
* [http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/us-navy-on-the-take-as-it-beefs-up-supply-ship-capacity-updated-01826/ US Navy on the T-AKE As It Beefs Up Supply Ship Capacity (updated)] at Defense Industry Daily
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.